Formation Conferences

Mount St. Mary's of the West provides a gradual year-by-year series of conferences oriented toward the acquisition of knowledge, wisdom and holiness at each level of formation. In each academic quarter, in addition to a general conference given by the House Spiritual Director, to the entire seminary, there are three formation conferences for each year residential study; the one exception is first pre-theology which has eight conferences during the first quarter and three per quarter thereafter. The following is the proposed schedule of conferences for the respective years of formation:

Pre-Theology I

Autumn

Conversations with a Spiritual Director

Why Me? The Nature of the Call

What is Formation?

Know Thyself: Self-Reflection and the impact of our Family of Origin

The Nature of Sin and the importance of the Examination of Conscience

What is Meditation, and How do I do it?

Who is our Eucharistic Lord?

Preparing to make a Retreat?

Winter

The Chaste Life - Psychological Development

Chaste Friendships

Celibacy as a Way of Life

Spring

Masculine Dimensions of Celibacy

Penance in the Life of the Seminarian/Priest

Preparation for Time Away

Pre-Theology II

Autumn

What does it mean that I believe?

Pray Always: The Dynamic of Inner Conversion

Difficulties in Prayer

Winter

The Priest as a Man of Virtue

The Priest as a Man of Charity and Mercy

Obedience and the Diocesan Priest

Spring

Suffering and the Paschal Mystery

The Priest: Conforming to Christ the Redeemer

Healthy friendships and Emotional Boundaries

First Theology

Those responsible for Formation at Mount St. Mary's recognize that the seminarian enters into formation for the priesthood already formed by the world and the life he has led up to this time. The men bring with them both strengths and weaknesses. The formation conferences of this first year have as their aim the strengthening of the foundations upon which the seminarian can endeavor to be conformed to the Gospel by the "renewal of his mind" and his heart.

The conferences address the weaknesses a man carries with him by inviting him to consciously entering into the via purgativa, a way of honest knowing and feeling, Thus, the nature of sin and the examination of conscience is tied to the practice of bringing this to prayer, meditation and penance. The challenge of the internal commitment to formation and growing in the evangelical counsels, the basis for the pursuit of holiness, is then treated.

Six sessions are then devoted to exploring the structure and dynamics of human sexuality and its proper sublimation within the life and ministry of one called to celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom.

Autumn

The Nature of Sin and the Examination of Conscience

What is Meditation? How do I do it?

Beginning to Understand the Priesthood: Head and Heart

To Make a Deeper Commitment: Candidacy and Lector

Beginning in Priestly Life: Simplicity of Life and the Modern World

What is the Obedience of the Diocesan Priest? Why does it Matter?

Chastity: Discipline only? Or does it enhance our ability to live the Mystery of the Priesthood?

Winter and Spring

Three sessions per quarter on Human Sexuality

Second Theology

Formation conferences during the second year focus on the seminarian's interior journey toward an understanding of the priest as a man of God and a man for the people of God. Preparation to approach the altar, not only in persona Christi but also as paterfamilia begins with learning to accept celibacy, the lives and trials of others and Jesus Christ as Lord, teacher, role model and companion.

Autumn

Ministry of Acolyte: Priestly Service to God's People at the Altar

Who do We become for Others? - Behavior, Stewardship, and Witness

Catholic Communal Reciprocity: Catholic Communal Reciprocity: Who are God's People for me and Who am I for Them?

Winter

Sacerdotalis Caelibatus

Sacerdotalis Caelibatus

Celibacy as a "Gospel Value"

Spring

Munera Docendi: To Teach as Jesus

Munera Servendi: To Serve as Jesus

Munera Vivendi: To Live as Jesus

Third Theology- Pastoral Internship Year

The seminary has a fully-integrated program for the placement of seminarians in a one-year parochial internship. There the seminarian experiences the spiritual life in the context of a faith community. In addition to a "departure" seminar, seminarians on their pastoral year return to the seminary twice during the year for various seminars and workshops. Following the pastoral year, seminarians journey to the Holy Land on pilgrimage

Fourth Theology

Autumn

Mary's Fiat and My Response to the Father's Invitation.

The Church's Call to Service: Becoming a Deacon

A Real for Jesus in Loving the Magisterium

Winter

Priestly Obedience to God and the Chruch

Poverty, Simplicity and Freedom

Totus Tuus: How Much of Ourselves should We give to Jesus?

Spring

Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity

An Active Apostolic Spirituality

Prayer and the Liturgy of Hours

Fifth Theology

Autumn

Priestly Calling: Parable of the Rich Young Man

The Celibate Priest as an Eschatological Witness

The Priest at the Altar: In Persona Christi

Winter

Priesthood and Ontological Change

The Priest as a Man of Prayer: How do we pray in solitary assignments?

Spiritual Direction, Confession, and ongoing Formation: the daily life of a priest?